Recommending a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into alleged fake laboratory tests in Aam Aadmi Mohalla clinics, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena said, “It is deeply upsetting that such fraud is allowed to be perpetrated on the general public.”

Making this observation, he also said the alleged fraud speaks volumes of the irresponsible and lackadaisical approach of successive Health Ministers as indeed Chief Minister, towards public health.

“It is deeply upsetting that such frauds allowed to be perpetrated on the general public which speaks volumes of the irresponsible and lackadaisical approach of successive Health Ministers as indeed Chief Minister, towards public health. While tall claims are frequently made in various forums by the GNCTD regarding providing world class health infrastructure in Delhi, the recent finding regarding spurious drugs and now fake lab tests, bring to the fore dark realities that belie any claims on the contrary. Since CBI has already initiated the enquiry with respect to AAMCs and subsequently into the matter of ‘Not of Standard Quality’ drugs, the proposal is approved. It may also be ensured that pending payments of outsourced labs may be released only after proper scrutiny and thorough verification/inquiry,” the Saxena said in a noting.

 Tens of thousands of tests were recommended prima-facie to ‘ghost patients’. Empirical data proving entry of fake mobile numbers/ blank mobile numbers of fictitious patients, fake attendance of doctors and fictitious data of patients establishes wide spread corruption, manipulation of documents, forgery of records with the sole intention to loot government exchequer and extend undue benefits to private parties operating the AAMCs as well as dispensaries, polyclinics and Hospitals of Delhi Government, officials said regarding the alleged fraud.

 Saxena said while tall claims are frequently made in various forums by the GNCTD regarding providing world class health infrastructure in Delhi, the recent finding regarding spurious drugs and now fake lab tests, bring to the fore dark realities that belie any claims on the contrary.

 “I am constrained to note with deep concern that my apprehensions regarding the possibility of financial impropriety, wasteful expenditure and malpractices involving health of the poorest of the poor, through manipulation and distortion of factual data in outsourcing of diagnostic services to private players, have come out to be true.

It is alarming to say the least, that within a span of few days, I have been presented with another file, after the one dealing with ‘Not of Standard Quality’ drugs being supplied in government hospitals and Mohalla Clinics – wherein, now gross irregularities in the lab testing being done by private agencies in Mohalla Clinics has been brought to the fore.

These irregularities/financial improprieties coupled with recent findings regarding sub-standard quality of drugs being provided in the Government Hospitals of GNCTD have laid bare the fact that public health sector is plagued with various omissions and commissions at all fronts at the cost of hapless patients who are desperately dependent on these indispensable services in the capital city of the country.

 What is even more reprehensible is the fact that the targeted population of these services at the MohallaClinics, are the poorest of the poor who have no recourse to any other means than the ones being provided by the government,” he said.

“It is needless to re-emphasize the critical importance and sensitivity expected for efficient functioning of public health system.

However, the instant revelations regarding huge amount of loss to the exchequer at the cost of the common citizen, adversely affecting the needy and the public health mechanism as a whole, seems to have defeated the whole objective for which the concept of AAMCs was institutionalised,” he added.

The document showed that Delhi government’ health deparment has outsourced the lab investigation services to the selected service provider viz. -MIS Agilus Diagnostics Ltd (formerly SRL Ltd, and Mis Metropolis Health Care Ltd  in February 2023.

These services providers are providing lab services in all Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinics (AAMC), Delhi Govt. Dispensaries (DGDs), Seed PUHCs, Hospitals and associated Polyclinics in three clusters.     

In August 2023,  it came to the notice of the Department that some Doctors/Staff of AAMC (Aam Aadmi Mohalla Clinic) posted in Shahdara, North-East & South-West District resorted to unethical practice to mark their attendance fraudulently on 3 tablet module by pre-recorded video, thereby violating the MoU & ToR regarding patient services.

The patients were consulted and medicines were disbursed to them in the absence of the Doctorby the empaneled staff who were not competent and not authorised to do so thereby endangering the lives of the patient.

In September 2023 immediate action was taken against these staffs and they were de-empaneled. Also FIRs were registered against them.

In October 2023 in continuation of this action, a review of sample of lab testing data (retrieved from both diagnostics labs web portal) was carried out.

A random analysis of lab data for 3 months - July toSept. 2023 - in Metropolis and Agilus Lab ManagementInformation System (LMIS) was carried out and it was observed that even during the period when the now de-empaneled Doctors were marking their attendance fraudulently through pre-recorded videos the lab tests are being recommended, meaning thereby that lab tests was being recommended without presence of treating doctor, which is clear violation of SOPs laid down.

Also it was found that a single mobile number (which is an important detail for identifying each patient visiting health facility for lab test) is occurring again and again (duplication) for many patients with different names. The data suggest that lab tests could have been entered which need to be enquired.